St John's RC Playgroup
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Bradford for children from birth to 8+, open 08:50 to 11:50, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2024. Open since 1993, with 20 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Bradford
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Bradford from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
BD6 3DQWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 10 September 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive in this caring, warm playgroup. All children, including those who have just started, separate from their parents and carers with the support of the friendly staff. Children are encouraged to talk about their emotions when they enter, which allows staff to support children effectively.
Staff act as good role models and reinforce rules and boundaries with children at the start of the session. This means that expectations around behaviour are clearly outlined. Children are reminded to have 'kind hands and indoor voices' and to walk when inside. In addition, new children are gently reminded of these expectations throughout the session.
Children have access to an environment that encourages independence and is set out to support their development through the implementation of the curriculum.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- allow children time to think and answer before asking further questions, to develop their thinking and vocabulary skills.
- 10 September 2024Good
- 4 October 2018Good
- 5 March 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St John's RC Playgroup
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.